The MSNBC pundit is blasted for calling Oscar favorite Top Gun: Maverick ‘insidious’ and ‘toxic’ for showing ‘American’s war machine’ as a ‘beacon of virtue’.
- Zeeshan Aleem tried to ideologically dismantle the popular Top Gun sequel, arguing that it was pure US military propaganda
- His MSNBC opinion column has been criticized online for its anti-American bias
- Top Gun: Maverick is up for six awards at Sunday night’s show and has grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide
MSNBC opinion writer Zeeshan Aleem has been criticized after branding Top Gun: Maverick “insidious” and “toxic” ahead of today’s Oscars.
Aleem claimed the crowd-pleaser was unworthy of an Oscar because its positive portrayal of the US military “invites a return to accepting the American war machine as a beacon of virtue and excitement.”
It’s a war fantasy “that could actually play out in real life,” he wrote.
“The war is portrayed only as a source of glory and camaraderie for Maverick and his colleagues, all of whom are attractive people and manage to carry out their daring mission with no casualties. Their training includes speed, sport and glamour,” he continued, expanding his position as an anti-US military.
However, outraged critics quickly jumped online in defense of the film, beating his remarks as “pathetic”.
US actor Tom Cruise arrives in a helicopter for the world premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick!” aboard the USS Midway in San Diego, California.
At the start of awards season, Hollywood heavyweight Steven Spielberg credited Cruise’s Top Gun with saving the film and cinema industry
In his commentary, Aleem wrote that it was “remarkable” that an action film like Top Gun was nominated for Best Picture and said he hoped it would be featured at Sunday night’s big show as a symbolic rejection of the military-industrial complex ” strikes”.
“Don’t think, just do it,” Maverick constantly advises his protégé, Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, underscoring the film’s plea for audiences to be lighthearted about the fight,” Aleem wrote.
“Maverick means the value of a pilot’s instincts, but he also challenges his students to expose their ability to think critically about the purpose of the institution they are in. The instincts, but again, it doesn’t compromise the mission.)
“Broadly speaking, ‘Don’t think, just do’ is also an appropriate slogan for the US foreign policy establishment – constantly looking to intervene in other countries without carefully considering whether it is right or whether it will be effective .”
However, many online critics vehemently disagreed with his point of view.
One posted the article on her Twitter timeline with the comment: “Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.”
Another, Joe Krusl, chimed in, writing, “Thank god we don’t have to rely on people like you to defend the country.”
Casey Casal said: “His [sic] Ironically, you are writing a negative article about a military whose sacrifices would allow you to write this if your country of origin would recognize such material. Like you, I come from an immigrant home (Philippines) but my father went into the Navy. That was a slap in the face for his victims.”
“Liberals will never be nice to those who protect us,” wrote John, who describes himself as a “MAGA patriot,” according to his Twitter account.
Someone else said: “What a crazy perspective and an overall sad article. Unfortunately not surprised’.
Finally, Aleem linked to a negative Fox News article written about his column and wrote, “lol that explains the surge of new nazis in my mentions,” referring to the chorus of dissent he had against saw his opinion piece.
Zeeshan Aleem, opinion writer/editor at MSNBC, has called Top Gun: Maverick a pro-American military propaganda that positively promotes the possibility of bloodless wars waged by attractive people
It is ironic that you are writing a negative article about a military whose sacrifices would allow you to write this if your country of origin would recognize such material. Like you, I come from an immigrant home (Philippines) but my father went into the Navy. That was a slap in the face for his victims pic.twitter.com/t43akYAZP4
— Casey Casal (@cvcasal) March 12, 2023
What a crazy perspective and an overall sad article. But unfortunately not surprised
– Justin (@thebkstylez) March 11, 2023
The film has won six awards, including Best Sunday Night Picture, and has grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide – nearly half of it at the domestic box office.
It also drew praise from one of Hollywood’s most respected directors, Steven Spielberg, who said the film essentially saved the movie industry and the theater experience as streaming services became dominant and COVID kept everyone out of theaters for years.